Energy-positive portable schools produce 4x the energy they use

Architectural firm, Anderson Anderson Architecture have developed a prefabricated, 960 square foot school house adorned with solar panels that generates more energy than it uses.

The prototype, deployed in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, utilizes natural ventilation and daylighting and building performance is monitored and displayed to students and on the internet.  The extensive environmental monitoring system give students and people on the internet an opportunity to witness the effectiveness of the building's energy usage and capacity.

 

The cool air is trapped and transfered throughout the structure

 

According to the creators, "This modular, off-site fabricated, relocatable classroom prototype was commissioned by the Hawaii Department of Education as a new model to replace the state’s current inventory of aging, poor quality and energy inefficient portables.  A state-funded scientific team is evaluating the building performance through a two-year study."

The relocatable design allows it to be used in a wide range of climates and conditions, and the portable designs have a major presence in Hawaiian education planning.  The building collects and generates electrical energy, daylight, wind energy, and rainwater and the "maximized photovoltaic surface matched with low energy consumption creates a positive net energy production that is four times the building’s annual consumption."

 

Image Credit: http://inhabitat.com/energy-positive-portable-classroom-produces-four-times-more-energy-than-it-needs/

http://andersonanderson.com/2013/02/01/energy-positive-portable-classroom/